Super Senior winner John Pate with Doug Williams (left) and Craig Calkins

The Ojai Senior Cup has quickly grown into one of the premier senior amateur events on West Coast, attracting a national field of senior players for three days of high-level competition. Set for October 17–19, 2025, this 54-hole stroke-play championship at Soule Park Golf Course combines elite competition, a one-of-a-kind golf setting, and a venue with a remarkable history and design pedigree.

With two divisions—Senior (55+, max index 6.5) and Super Senior (65+, max index 8.5)—the field reads like a statewide all-star list: past SCGA champions, NCGA standouts, nationally-ranked senior amateurs, USGA veterans, and prior Ojai Cup winners. The 2024 edition ended in dramatic fashion as Tim Hogarth of Northridge, Calif. birdied the 18th hole to win by a shot at 9-under (69-68-70), becoming the first two-time champion in the event’s history. In the Super Senior Division, John Mack rallied late with a closing 69 to win by two strokes.

Recognized as a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event, part of the Golfweek Senior Nation series, and awarded the highest SCGA Senior Player of the Year points level outside SCGA/USGA events, the Ojai Senior Cup stands as one of nation's most prestigious senior amateur championships.

This is where the Nation’s best senior players converge to test their games on a course that demands precision, creativity, and championship grit.

The Soul of Soule Park: A Gift to the People of Ojai

Soule Park Golf Course exists because of a rare act of generosity. In 1959, local resident Zaidee Soule, honoring her family’s deep roots in the Ojai Valley since 1874, promised that their 310-acre ranch would never be sold to developers, instead gifting it to the community.

“Doug, you can have your park and golf course any time you want it.”

That promise became reality in 1962 when William F. Bell, architect of Torrey Pines and Sandpiper, designed Soule Park as a public course for everyone to enjoy. To this day, the course stands as a testament to the Soule family’s vision of golf as a communal experience, blending natural beauty with accessibility for all players.

From Disaster to World-Class Restoration

Soule Park nearly disappeared in 2005, when catastrophic floods turned its usually dry barranca into a raging river that washed away greens, fairways, and bridges overnight. For months, the course lay in ruins, its future uncertain.

Enter Craig Price, who brought in rising stars Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner to rebuild the course. Instead of simply repairing the damage, Hanse and Wagner reimagined Soule Park, transforming it into a strategic masterpiece that today ranks among the Top 50 municipal courses in America (Golfweek).

• Minimalist approach: Preserving natural landforms while enhancing sightlines and playing angles.
• Bold bunkering: Ragged, visually striking hazards that create risk-reward decisions off the tee.
• Distinctive greens: The boomerang-shaped 4th and punchbowl 5th holes are among California’s most memorable, rewarding precision and creativity.
• Firm, fast conditions: A design that tests thought and execution, not just distance.

Hanse’s work brought Soule Park back to life, elevating it from a good municipal course to a nationally respected championship venue, all while keeping its public-access roots intact.

The Tournament Experience: Golf, Nature, and Camaraderie

• Elite Field: The strongest collection of senior amateurs, battling for a title that truly matters in state golf circles.
• Prestige: WAGR points, Golfweek Senior Nation recognition, and SCGA Senior POY points make every shot meaningful.
• Spectacular Setting: At the base of the Topa Topa Mountains, oak-lined fairways and peaceful valley views create a stunning championship backdrop. The evening “Pink Moments” paint the sky in unforgettable colors.
• Community Feel: From check-in to final putt, the atmosphere is welcoming, with locals volunteering and players gathering post-round on Soule Park’s patio to share stories and laughs.
• Destination Weekend: Ojai’s boutique hotels, farm-to-table dining, and small-town charm turn the tournament into a memorable getaway for players and families alike.

2025 Schedule & Player Amenities

Your entry fee includes all green fees, carts & range, a player gift, prize fund, and food & beverage throughout the event at Zaidee’s Bar & Grill.

• Friday, Oct 17: Tee times starting 10:00 am (1st & 10th tees). Post-round food & beverage reception.
• Saturday, Oct 18: Complimentary breakfast 6:30–10:00 am. Tee times starting 8:00 am.
• Sunday, Oct 19: Complimentary breakfast 6:30–10:00 am. Tee times starting 8:00 am. Post-round reception and awards presentation.

Lodging Information

Stay just minutes from Soule Park in one of Ojai’s welcoming boutique hotels. A room block has been reserved at the Hummingbird Inn (mention “Ojai Senior Cup”). Other local favorites include:

• Su Nido Inn: Artful Mission Revival suites, steps from downtown Ojai.
• Caravan Outpost: Unique luxury Airstream lodging in a garden setting.

A Legacy Worth Competing For

Every year, the Ojai Senior Cup continues the Soule family’s vision: a place where people can gather, compete, and celebrate the game of golf. From its origins as a gift to the people, to surviving a flood and being reborn under Gil Hanse’s design, Soule Park is more than a course—it’s a living story of generosity, resilience, and championship golf.

This October, the best senior players from across California and all over the United States, as well as Canada and Costa Rica will once again tee it up on sacred ground, chasing a title that carries weight far beyond the scorecard.

📅 Dates: October 17–19, 2025
📍 Venue: Soule Park Golf Course – Ojai, California
👉 More information and tournament updates